Mosaic Village Opens with Colorful Festivities in Charlotte’s Historic West End

Mosaic Village opened on October 4 in the historic West End. Johnson C. Smith University President Ronald L. Carter joined Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, city officials and business leaders in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the 124,000-square-foot facility at 1635 West Trade Street.

The
25-million-dollar project, funded by public-private partnerships with the
University, the Griffin Family of Griffin Brothers Tires, Inc. and the city of
Charlotte, features 80 apartment-style suites serving 300 student-tenants, street-front
retail space and a parking garage. Mosaic Village’s fully furnished suites are equipped
with kitchens, washers/dryers, dishwashers and sitting areas.

The
event drew more than 200 members of the community and the University who filled
West Trade Street, which was closed to traffic. The ceremony began with a
procession of the JCSU marching band, the International Institution of Sound,
highlighted by a proclamation by Charlotte City Council member James Mitchell
and entertainment by the JCSU Concert Choir.

The
colorful design of Mosaic Village is inspired by the area's rich history and
unmatched resilience, according to Darrel Williams, principal of Neighboring
Concepts. “Mosaic Village becomes an architectural composition that respects
its history, while charting a new path for the Historic West End community."

“We
are proud to partner with the Griffin family of Griffin Brothers Tire, Inc. and
the city of Charlotte as we carry out the mission of the West Trade
Street/Beatties Ford Road Task Force to revive the soul of the Northwest
Corridor,” said Dr. Ronald L. Carter, president of JCSU. “We are grateful to all who have helped make Mosaic
Village a catalyst for positive change.”

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Mosaic Village (off-campus apts) this morning! Its bout to be off the chains. pic.twitter.com/CuZlFqiiom/CuZlFqii

During his remarks, Foxx called Mosaic
Village “a down payment on the future,” made possible because of the University’s
vision to extend beyond its gates into the community. Businessman Mike Griffin
called the development a “great investment inspired by a passion that will keep
moving the Northwest Corridor forward.”